Dailey Pike

Judith Hill In The Studio

​Before she was picked to sing back-up for Michael Jackson's ill-fated 2009 London shows, Judith Hill was a relatively unknown perfomer from Pasadena.

When Hill appeared near the end of Jackson's memorial service to lead the stage in singing "Heal The World," most of the Staples Center audience didn't know who she was, and her name wasn't listed in the program. A flurry of Google searches in the next 24 hours followed, and she was on her way to being discovered. This Is It shows Hill singing "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" with Jackson at their very first rehearsal together, with the show's dancers and supporting cast giggling in delight as Jackson is inspired to sing out for the first time.

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Timothy Norris

Gotye

​See also: Our Gotye slideshow
Gotye
El Rey Theatre
2/02/12

Better than ... watching the music video for "Somebody That I Used To Know" over and over.

"Somebody That I Used To Know" is the kind of song you can never get out of your head. It might have something to do with the fact that if you sign on to Facebook or turn on your radio, there is a good chance you will hear it playing or see it posted (multiple times). After seeing Gotye perform live however, it is clear what he brings to the table is something special -- and that's really why it sticks.

Wouter "Wally" De Backer -- the true identity of Gotye -- started the sold-out show with a bang. Literally. When the curtain was finally drawn, he emerged from backstage and began to play the array of drums displayed across the front of the stage. Three mics were set up around the drums giving him ample ability to belt his soulful songs while he played percussion.

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Timothy Norris

​California knows how to party.
-"California Love"

It's the unofficial state motto. But not only do we know how, we know where. Los Angeles is home to a wide spectrum of live music venues, from the teeniest Echo Park hole-in-the-wall only you and five friends know, to grand ol' dames who've weathered the city's ups and downs, to infamous Hollywood haunts where traces of the glitter glam-rockers left behind still sparkle. But that little club's sound system might leave you deaf and you probably won't be able to see the stage in one of those big arenas. So what are the best venues in L.A. to hear live music? We polled L.A. Weekly's music writers for their favorites, and the full list is compiled below.

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​See also: Top Ten Best Live Music Venues in L.A.: #10 - #6

5. Music Box
See also: R.I.P. the Music Box? Legendary Hollywood Venue Shuttered [UPDATE: Short-term?]
News of the Music Box's overnight shuttering this month was met with shock, followed swiftly by disappointment. The gorgeous venue, which opened in 1926, hosted stars like Clark Gable and Marlene Dietrich. Even though it was recently renovated, the black-and-white checkered floor and thick red curtains made you feel you were stepping back in time. Perfect setup for shorties or those with a touch of claustrophobia -- wrangle one of the VIP wristbands that allowed you upstairs or hang back beside the elevated main bar. The legendary venue's website is frozen for now, very likely a wink from the old owners. "Can't stop the music," reads a banner. No buttons work, and the music player is paused with the words "Stand by" above. Oh, we will. -Rebecca Haithcoat

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Timothy Norris

​See also: Top Ten Best Live Music Venues in L.A.: #5 - #1

California knows how to party.
-"California Love"

It's the unofficial state motto. But not only do we know how, we know where. Los Angeles is home to a wide spectrum of live music venues, from the teeniest Echo Park hole-in-the-wall only you and five friends know, to grand ol' dames who've weathered the city's ups and downs, to infamous Hollywood haunts where traces of the glitter glam-rockers left behind still sparkle. But that little club's sound system might leave you deaf and you probably won't be able to see the stage in one of those big arenas. So what are the best venues in L.A. to hear live music? We polled L.A. Weekly's music writers for their favorites.

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​See also: Our coverage of the bizarre Michael Jackson handprint ceremony

Some out there may believe Michael Jackson is still alive, but most of us suspect he'll never emerge from his coffin "Thriller"-style for a glorious comeback. Perhaps the next best thing, dance guru Jamie King has partnered with Cirque du Soleil for a new show, Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, which starts tonight at Staples Center and runs through the weekend.

King -- the King of Thrill! (see page three) -- started dancing for Jackson in 1992, and says that his show gets into "Michael's head." That said, he went out of his way to omit the controversial bits, though that's probably to be expected. If you can leave your cynicism behind, you can expect a dazzling menagerie of dancers, costumes, and theatrics. We spoke with King about the performance and his relationship with MJ.

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Timothy Norris

​NOFX House of Blues Sunset Strip
1/17/12

See also: Our NOFX slideshow

Better than ...All of the other shows NOFX played this week

After nearly four hours of opening bands, NOFX finally took the stage in front of a packed house at House of Blues Hollywood last night. Lead Singer Fat Mike enticed the crowd: "Tonight is going to be the best night of your life." Judging by the exuberant sea of fist pumping moshers in the pit, this may have been true, at least for some.

Not only was this the only night NOFX played "The Decline," their 18 minute punk rock masterpiece and rant about the problems with politics and society, they also surprised the audience by doing a special (though sloppy) live recording of "Doornails," featuring opener Old Man Markley.

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​Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein's Portlandia has put Portland on the pop culture map. To quote from the show itself, it's a place where young people can go and retire, all the hot chicks wear glasses, and you can put a bird on anything and call it art.

The Saturday Night Live cast member and the former Sleater-Kinney frontwoman created the show as a love letter to the city, Brownstein says. Still, it's got to sting just a little to residents of that Pacific Northwestern burg, who will have you know it's not Seattle, as Portlandia is also populated by humorless feminist-bookstore owners, DIY musicians, militant bike riders and even more militant animal lovers.

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Wikimedia Commons

Amanda Brown of LA Vampires and Daniel Martin-McCormick of Ital rock a dank Polish club.

​See also: Amanda Brown: Raw Foodist, Colossal In Kiev

M Dinner House was a Japanese jazz club nestled into a strip of bodegas and windowless brick facades atop the Hollywood Freeway. Once a week, the club hosted Grown, a lurid soiree soundtracked by the best chill-out, house and bass music in Los Angeles. Top-shelf talent spun for appreciative aficionados.

When it was shut down last summer, Amanda Brown's 100% Silk, a boutique off-shoot of her vanguard experimental label Not Not Fun, emerged as the new home for retro-fetishistic dance heads. Not two weeks after the demise of M, many of its regulars jammed Hollywood's Freak City for the label's first eponymous party. Now, following a successful international tour with Silk artists, Brown's back, and throwing the second edition at Little Temple tonight.

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Diamond Bodine-Fischer

Father Tiger performs on the Boardner's patio

​Better than...sitting around complaining about modern music and listening to your old Depeche Mode albums.

Los Angeles-born synthpop duo Father Tiger tease their fans with sporadic YouTube videos and performance dates. Last night they played Kitty Kitty Bang Bang's XMESS party -- which doubled as a Toys for Tots drive -- to an enraptured crowd at Boardner's.

Father Tiger use analog synths, bright percussion and throaty vocals to create an upbeat and playful sound, which nonetheless has something somber at its heart. They take clear influence from OMD and Alphaville, but throw in modern beats and tones. It can best be described as a blissful songwriting marriage of Andy McCluskey and Robyn.

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